Enzo Fernandez will return to the Chelsea starting lineup when they welcome Ajax to Stamford Bridge for a UEFA Champions League clash on Wednesday.

Chelsea will be eager to continue the recent upturn in form when they host Ajax at Stamford Bridge for a UEFA Champions League tie on Wednesday night. Enzo Maresca has received a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.

Joao Pedro is the latest absentee, with the Brazilian international serving a suspension after being sent off against SL Benfica on Matchday 2. The former Brighton & Hove Albion attacker has joined Levi Colwill (knee), Benoit Badiashile (muscular), Dario Essugo (thigh), Cole Palmer (groin), and Liam Delap (hamstring) on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Maresca has been sweating over Enzo Fernandez’s fitness, as the Argentine midfielder is recovering from a minor knee injury. Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable due to a suspension after he failed a doping test several months ago. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Maresca provided fitness updates on Enzo Fernandez and Liam Delap.

The Chelsea manager said, “Enzo took part in the session yesterday (Monday). We have one more session this afternoon and then we will decide what we will do with him for tomorrow. As I said before the Forest game, it [the injury] was not something we had to be overly worried about; it is just to try to protect Enzo and protect any other players we need to protect.”

“Liam is very close. He’s not working with us yet – he’s still out – but hopefully in the next days he can begin taking part in the sessions with us.”

Maresca also discussed how he will replace Joao Pedro. The Chelsea boss said, “We have different options, we have one more session this afternoon and then we will decide [who starts]. We have Marc, we have also Tyrique [George], who has played games as a nine in the past; he did very well previously playing in that role, such as against Benfica.”

“We trust Marc. We trusted him already last year and he was always playing and training with confidence. We gave him some Premier League minutes, which shows we trust Marc. Now he’s with us [following his loan recall] and he’s going to play games for us, for sure.”

Tyrique George will lead the line for Chelsea against Ajax in Joao Pedro’s absence, with Facundo Buonanotte reprising the no. 10 role. Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian will start as the two wide attackers. As for the midfield unit, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo should return to the double pivot.

Meanwhile, Robert Sanchez will retain his spot between the sticks, with the home side lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him. Finally, the backline will feature Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, and Marc Cucurella.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Estevao, Buonanotte, Neto; George